Improvement in signal head-lights



H T Y S R O F W Signal Head-Light.

Patented Nov. 26,1878.

INVENTOR WITNESSES 64 BY W ATTORNEYS.

MPETERS, PH HER WASHINGTON. D. O

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIA M FORSYTH, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SIGNAL HEAD-LIGHTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 210,313, datedNovember 26, 1878 application filed February 6, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM FoRsYTH, of Altoona, in the county of Blairand State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved LocomotiveHead-Light, of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of myimproved locomotive head-light; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the same 5Fig. 3, a detail view of the transparent-glass slide or nameplate; andFig. 4, a vertical transverse section on line 00 m, Fig. 2, on enlargedscale, taken through the side of the case of the head-light.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

This invention is intended to furnish locomotive head-lights thatdisplay the number or name of the engine at night in a very distinctmanner, so as to facilitate the running of night-trains fortrain-dispatchers and operators in telegraph-offices and on blocksignals.

The invention consists of the case of the headlight, having broken-outsides and transparent-glass plates, through which the number or name ofthe locomotive is visible by means of the light in the upper part of thecase, the interior of the case and back of the reflector being paintedwhite for that purpose.

Referring to the drawing, A- represents the outer case of a locomotivehead-light, which is provided with the usual reflector and lamp.

The sides of the casing or lanternA are formed with openings, located atthe upper portion or about on a level with the aperture formed for thechimney in the reflector, so that the light escaping through theaperture may illuminate the glass plate B, on which thename or numberofthe locomotive is placed. These glass plates or panels B are guided insuitable manner at the inside of the sides of the case, back of theopenings in the same, and ground on one side, andpa-inted black with theexception of the outlines of the figures or letters, which are leftclear, so that the light can shine through them for illuminating thefigures.

The inside of the head-light case and the back of the reflector arepainted white, so that the light is not absorbed, but utilized for thepurpose of illuminating the glass panels. In place of the glass panels,the figures maybe out out of the sheet-iron case, and a plain glassslide placed back of the same, by which the desired illumination can beobtained. The desired illumination may also be obtained in other manner,as I do not confine myself to the special modes given.

By the use of such locomotive head-lights the running of night-trains isfacilitated, as the number or name of the locomotive is readilyfurnished for the information of dispatchers and operators intelegraph-offices and on block signals.

I am aware that locomotive head-lights having figures or names locatedin front of the lantern -case and reflector have before been known andused; and also that a patent was granted to Mills, Bell, and Garey,January 4, 1876, No. 171,843, in which transparencies are described asbeing illuminated through openings formed in the sides of the reflector.I do not therefore broadly claim the use of a locomotive head-light forsignaling purposes.

What I do claim as my invention is- A locomotive head-light havingtransparencies in the sides of the lantern-case for signaling purposes,said transparencies being located in the upper portion of the lanternabove the reflector so as to be illuminated by the rays of light whichpass through the opening formedin tlie refleotor for the passage of thelamp-chimney, substantially as set forth.

WILLIAM FORSYTH.

Witnesses:

J NO. W. GLoUD, CHAS. B. DUDLEY.

